
Edited by 

MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH, A. M., Pfu D. 
JOSEPH S. WALTON, Pfu D. 


tf£ S0& 1$ 


Translations and Reprints from Original 
Historical Documents* 


No. 3.—Penn’s Frame of Government 
of 1682 and Privileges and 
Concessions of 1701. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

CHRISTOPHER SOWER COMPANY, 
614 ARCH STREET. 





PREFATORY NOTE, 


The increasing demand for original historical documents, illus¬ 
trating the growth and development of American institutions, has 
induced the editors to issue the “Liberty BSEE Leaflets.” 

That the student may see history through the eyes of its 
makers, this series will present, from time to time, important original 
papers which are by reason of expense or rarity not readily accessible. 

That the student may not be encumbered with irrelevant mat¬ 
ter and that the expense may be reduced to a minimum, the leaflet 
form has been adopted, and all extraneous matter eliminated. 

There are already some admirable publications illustrative of 
the influence of colonial charters upon the state and local governments 
lying within the extreme northern belt of migration westward. For 
this reason the series will deal more largely with papers typical of 
proprietary influence ; and of the county-township system of local 
government as it impressed itself upon that belt of western migration 
which sprang from the middle colonies and spread to the Pacific. 




Liberty Bell Leaflets 


Translations and Reprints of Original 
Historical Documents. 





No. 3.—Penn's Frame of Government of 1682 and 


Privileges and Concessions of 1701. 


✓ 





EDITED BY 

Martin G. Brumbaugh, A. M., Ph. D. 
Joseph S. Walton, Ph. D. 


Philadelphia : 

Christopher Sower Company, 
614 Arch Street. 








EDITORS’ NOTES. 


The Colonial Assemblies like the English Parliament were 
accustomed to be convened and adjourned by the power and authority 
of the executive. In Penn’s Frame of Government as well as in the 
Concessions of 1701, the legislative power was given the privilege 
to sit upon its own adjournments. 

In the Frame, it was provided that the Governor’s Council 
should initiate legislation, and the bills were to be published thirty 
days before the meeting of the Assembly, which was expected merely 
to approve or veto the acts. In the Concessions on the other hand the 
initiative is transferred to the Assembly, and the Governor and Coun¬ 
cil can only veto bills which the Assembly passes. 

An interesting feature in the Frame was a Committee “of 
manners, education, and arts, that all wicked and scandalous living 
may be prevented, and that youth may be successively trained up in 
virtue and useful knowledge and arts.” It was Penn’s idea that the 
wise and influential men in the community should use part of their 
time in training young men for what to-day is known as their civic 
responsibility. ^ 

• 1/ ^ ^ i ^ ^O I : ; ^ ^U W k*. ^ 



Copyright 1898, by Christopher Sower Company. 



Penn’s Frame of Government for Pennsylvania, 

1682. 


T O ALL PEOPLE, to whom these presents shall 
come. Whereas king Charles the second, by his 
letters patent, under the great seal of England: for 
the consideration therein mentioned, hath been graciously 
pleased to give and grant unto me William Penn (by the 
name of William Penn Esq. son and heir of Sir William 
Penn, deceased) and to my heirs and assigns forever, all that 
tract of land or province, called Pennsylvania, in America, 
with divers great powers, preheminences, royalties, jurisdic¬ 
tions, and authorities, necessary for the well-being and gov¬ 
ernment thereof: Now know Ye, that for the well-being and 
government of said province, and for the encouragement of 
all the freemen and planters that may be therein concerned, 
in pursuance of the powers aforementioned, I the said Wil¬ 
liam Penn have declared, granted, and confirmed, and by 
these presents, for me, my heirs and assigns, do declare, 
grant and confirm unto all the freemen, planters and adven¬ 
turers, of, in and to the said province, these liberties, fran¬ 
chises, and properties, to be held, enjoyed and kept by the 
freemen, planters and inhabitants of the said province of.' 
Pennsylvania for ever. 

' Imprimus. That the government of this province shall, ac¬ 
cording to the powers of the patent, consist of the Governor 
and freemen, of the said province, in form of a Provincial 
Council and General Assembly, by whom all laws shall be 
made, officers chosen, and publick affairs transacted, as is 
hereafter respectively declared. That is to say, 

Second.—That the freemen of said province shall, on the 
twentieth day of the twelfth month, which shall be in this 

( 3 ) 



4 


- present year, one thousand six hundred eighty and two, 
meet and assemble in some fit place, of which timely notice 
shall be before hand given, by the governor or his deputy, 
and then and there shall choose out of themselves seventy- 
two persons of most note for their wisdom, virtue and ability, 
who shall meet on the tenth day of the first month next ensu¬ 
ing, and always be called and act as the Provincial Council 
of the said province. 

Third.—That at the first choice of such Provincial Council, 
one third part of the said Provincial Council shall be chosen 
to serve for three years next ensuing; one third part for two 
years then next ensuing, and one third part for one year 
then next following such election, and no longer; and that 
the said third part shall go out accordingly. And on the 
twentieth day of the twelfth month as aforesaid, yearly for 
ever afterward, the freemen of the said province shall in like 
manner meet and assemble together, and then chuse twenty- 
four persons, being one third of the said number, to serve 
in Provincial Council for three years. 

It being intended that one third part of the whole Provin¬ 
cial Council (always consisting and to consist of seventy 
two persons, as aforesaid) falling off yearly, it shall be yearly 
supplied by such new yearly elections, as aforesaid; and that 
no one person shall continue therein longer than three years: 
and in case any member shall decease before the last election 
during his time, that then at the next election ensuing his 
decease, another shall be chosen to supply his place for the 
remaining time he was to have served, and no longer. 

Fourth.—That after the first seven years, every one of the 
said third parts that goeth yearly off, shall be uncapable of 
being chosen again for one whole year following: that so all 
may be fitted for government, and have experience of the 
care and burden of it. 

Fifth.—That the Provincial Council in all cases of matters 
of moment, as their urging upon bills to be passed into laws, 


5 


erecting courts of justice, giving judgment upon criminals 
impeached, and choice of officers, in such manner as is herein 
after mentioned; not less than two thirds of the whole Pro¬ 
vincial Council shall make a quorum; and that the consent 
and approbation of two thirds of such quorum shall be had 
in all such cases and matters of moment. And moreover, 
that in all cases and matters of lesser moment, twenty-four 
members of the said Provincial Council shall make a quo¬ 
rum, the majority of which twenty four shall and may always 
determine in such cases and causes of lesser moment. 

Sixth.—That in this Provincial Council, the governor or 
his deputy shall or may always preside, and have a treble 
voice; and the said Provincial Council shall always continue, 
and sit upon its own adjournments and committees. 

Seventh.—That the governor and Provincial Council shall 
prepare and propose to the General Assembly hereafter men¬ 
tioned, all bills, which they shall at any time think fit to be 
passed into laws within the said province; which bills shall 
be published and affixed to the most noted places in the in¬ 
habited parts thereof thirty days before the meeting of the 
General Assembly in order to the passing them into laws or 
rejecting of them, as the General Assembly shall see meet. 

Eighth.—That the governor and Provincial Council shall 
take care that all laws, statutes and ordinances, which shall 
at any time be made within the said province, be duly and 
diligently executed. 

Ninth.—That the governor and Provincial Council shall 
at all times have the care of the peace and safety of the prov¬ 
ince, and that nothing be by any person attempted to the 
subversion of this frame of government. 

Tenth.—That the governor and Provincial Council shall 
at all times settle and order the situation of all cities, ports 
and market towns in every county, modelling therein all pub¬ 
lic buildings, streets and market places and shall appoint all 
necessary roads and highways in the province. 


6 


Eleventh.—That the governor and Provincial Council 
shall at all times have power to inspect the management of 
the publick treasury, and punish those who shall convert 
any part thereof to any other use, than what hath been agreed 
upon by the governor, Provincial Council and General As¬ 
sembly. 

Twelfth.—That the governor and Provincial Council shall 
erect and order all publick schools, and encourage and re¬ 
ward the authors of useful sciences and laudable inventions 
in the said province. 

Thirteenth.—That for the better management of the pow¬ 
ers and trust aforesaid, the Provincial Council shall from 
time to time divide itself into four distinct and proper com¬ 
mittees, for the more easy administration of the affairs of the 
province, which divides the seventy two into four eighteens, 
every one of which eighteens shall consist of six out of each 
of the three orders or yearly elections, each of which shall 
have a distinct portion of business, as followeth: first, a com¬ 
mittee of plantations, to situate and settle cities, ports, mar¬ 
ket-towns and high-ways, and to hear and decide all suits 
and controversies relating to plantations. Secondly, a com¬ 
mittee of justice and safety, to secure the peace of the prov¬ 
ince, and punish the male-administration of those who sub¬ 
vert justice to the prejudice of the publick or private inter¬ 
est. Thirdly, a committee of trade and treasury, who shall 
regulate all trade and commerce acording to law, encourage 
manufacture and country growth, and defray the publick 
charge of the province. And fourthly, a committee of man¬ 
ners, education, and arts, that all wicked and scandalous 
living may be prevented, and that youth may be successively 
trained up in virtue and useful knowledge and arts: the quo¬ 
rum of each of which committees being six, that is, two out 
of each of the three orders or yearly elections as aforesaid, 
making a constant and standing council of twenty-four, 
which will have the power of the Provincial Council, being 


7 


the quorum of it, in all cases not excepted in the fifth article; 
and in the said committees and standing Council of the prov¬ 
ince, the governor or his deputy shall or may preside as 
aforesaid; and in the absence of the governor or his deputy, 
if no one is by either of them appointed, the said committees 
or Council, shall appoint a president for that time, and not 
otherwise; and what shall be resolved at ■such committees, 
shall be reported to the said Council of the province, and 
shall be by them resolved and confirmed before the same 
shall be put in execution; and that these respective commit¬ 
tees shall not sit at one and the same time, except in cases 
of necessity. 

Fourteenth.—And to the end that all laws prepared by the 
governor and provincial Council aforesaid, may yet have the 
more full concurrence of the freemen of the province, k is 
declared, granted and confirmed, that at the time and place 
or places of the choice of a Provincial Council as aforesaid, 
the said freemen shall yearly choose members to serve in 
General Assembly as their representatives, not exceeding 
two hundred persons, who shall yearly meet on the twentieth 
day of the second month, which shall be in the year one thou¬ 
sand six hundred eighty and three following, in the capital, 
town or city of the said province, where during eight days the 
several members may freely confer with one another; and, if 
any of them see meet, with a committee of the Provincial 
Council (consisting of Three out of each of the four commit¬ 
tees aforesaid, being twelve in all) which shall be at that time 
purposely appointed to receive from any of them proposals 
for the alteration or amendment of any of the said proposed 
and promulgated bills; and on the ninth day from their so 
meeting, the said General Assembly, after reading over the 
proposed bills by the clerk of the Provincial Council and 
the occasion and motives for them being opened by the gov¬ 
ernor or his deputy, shall give their affirmative or negative, 
which to them seemeth best, in such manner as hereinafter 


8 


is expressed. But not less than two-thirds shall make a 
quorum in the passing of laws, and choice of such officers 
as are by them to be chosen. 

Fifteenth.—That the laws so prepared and proposed as 
aforesaid, that are assented to by the General Assembly, 
shall be enrolled as laws of the province, with this stile: By 
the Governor, with the assent and approbation of the free¬ 
men in Provincial Council and General Assembly. 

Sixteenth—That for the better establishment of the Gov¬ 
ernment and laws of this province, and to the end there may 
be an universal satisfaction in the laying of the fundamentals 
thereof; the General Assembly shall or may for the first year 
consist of all the freemen of and in said province, and ever 
after it shall be yearly chosen, as aforesaid; which number 
of two hundred shall be enlarged as the country shall in¬ 
crease in people, so as it do not exceed five hundred at any 
time: the appointment and proportioning of which, as also 
the laying and methodizing of the choice of the Provincial 
Council and General Assembly in future times, most equally 
to the divisions of the hundreds and counties, which the 
country shall hereafter be divided into; shall be in the power 
of the Provincial Council to propose, and the General As¬ 
sembly to resolve. 

Seventeenth.—That the governor and the Provincial 
Council shall erect, from time to time, standing courts of 
justice in such places and number as they shall judge conve¬ 
nient for the good government of the said province. And 
that the Provincial Council shall, on the thirteenth day of the 
first month yearly, elect and present to the governor or his 
deputy, a double number of persons to serve for judges, 
treasurers, master of rolls, within the said province forThe 
year next ensuing; and the freemen of the said province in 
the county courts, when they shall be erected, and till then 
in the General Assembly shall, on the three and twentieth 
day of the second month yearly, elect and present to the 


9 


governor or his deputy, a double number of persons to serve 
for sheriffs, justices of the peace, and coroners, for the year 
next ensuing; out of which respective elections and present¬ 
ments, the governor or his deputy shall nominate and com- 
missionate the proper number for each office the third day 
after the said presentments; or else the first named in such 
presentment for each office, shall stand and serve for that 
office the year, ensuing. 

Eighteenth.—But forasmuch as the present condition of 
the province requires some immediate settlement, and admits 
not of so quick a revolution of officers; and to the end the 
said province may, with all convenient speed, be well or¬ 
dered and settled, I, William Penn, do therefore think fit, to 
nominate and appoint such persons for judges, treasurers, 
master of the rolls, sheriffs, justices of the peace, and coro¬ 
ners, as are most fitly qualified for those employments; to 
whom I shall make and grant commissions for the said of¬ 
fices respectively, to hold to them to whom the same shall 
be granted, for so long time as every such person shall well 
behave himself in the office or place to him respectively 
granted, and no longer. And upon the decease or displac¬ 
ing of any of the said officers, the succeeding officer or offi¬ 
cers shall be chosen as aforesaid. 

Nineteenth.—That the General Assembly shall continue so 
long as may be needful to impeach criminals fit to be there 
impeached; to pass bills into laws, that they shall think fit 
to pass into laws, and till such time as the governor and 
Provincial Council shall declare, that they have nothing fur¬ 
ther to propose unto them for their assent and approbation; 
and that declaration shall be a dismiss to the General As¬ 
sembly for that time, which General Assembly shall be not¬ 
withstanding capable of assembling together, upon the sum¬ 
mons of the Provincial Council, at any time during that 
year, if the said Provincial Council shall see occasion for 
their so assembling. 


IO 


Twentieth.—That all the elections of members or represent¬ 
atives of the people, to serve in Provincial Council, and Gen¬ 
eral Assembly, and all questions to be determined by both 
or either of them, that relate to passing of bills into laws, to 
the choice of officers, to impeachments made by the General 
Assembly, and judgment of criminals upon such impeach¬ 
ments by the Provincial Council and to all other cases by 
them respectively judged of importance, shall be resolved 
and determined by the ballot; and, unless on sudden and in¬ 
dispensable occasions, no business in Provincial Council, or 
its respective committees, shall be finaly determined the 
same day that it is moved. 

Twenty-first.—That at all times, when and so often as it 
shall happen, that the Governor shall or may be an infant, 
under the age of one and twenty years, and no guardians or 
commissioners are appointed in. writing by the father of the 
said infant, or that such guardians or commissioners shall 
be deceased; that during such minority, the Provincial Coun¬ 
cil shall, from time to time, as they shall see meet, constitute 
and appoint guardians or commissioners, not exceeding 
three; one of which three shall preside as deputy and chief 
guardian, during such minority, and shall have and execute, 
with the consent of the other two, all the power of a gov¬ 
ernor, in all the public affairs and concerns of the said 
province. 

Twenty-second.—That as often as any day of the month, 
mentioned in any article of this charter, shall fall upon the 
first day of the week, commonly called the Lord’s day, the 
business appointed for that day shall be deferred till next 
day, unless in case of emergency. 

Twenty-third.—That no act, law or ordinance whatsoever, 
shall at any time hereafter be made or done, by the governor 
of this province, his heirs or assigns, or by the freemen in 
the Provincial Council or the General Assembly, to alter, 
change or diminish the form or effect of this charter, or any 


part or clause thereof, without the consent of the governor, 
his heirs or assigns, and six parts of seven of the said free¬ 
men in Provincial Council, and General Assembly. 

And lastly.—That I the said William Penn, for myself, my 
heirs, and assigns, have solemnly declared, granted and con¬ 
firmed, and do hereby solemnly declare, grant and confirm, 
that neither I, my heirs nor assigns, shall procure or do any 
thing or things, whereby the liberties in this charter con¬ 
tained and expressed, shall be infringed or broken; and if 
any thing be procured by any person or persons contrary to 
these premises, it shall be held of no force or effect. In Wit¬ 
ness whereof, I the said William Penn have unto this pres¬ 
ent charter of liberties, set my hand and broad seal, this five 
and twentieth day of the second month, vulgarly called 
April in the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred 
and eighty-two. WILLIAM PENN. 


Penn's Charter of Privileges to the Province and 
Counties of Pennsylvania* 


[Concessions to the Peopee of Pennsyevania, 1701.] 


W ILLIAM PENN, Proprietary & Governr of the 
Porvince of Pennsylvania & Territories thereunto 
belonging. 

To all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth Greet¬ 
ing: 

Whereas, King Charles The Second, by his Letters Pat¬ 
ents under the Great Seal of England, bearing date the 
fourth day of March, in the year One Thousand and Six 
hundred & Eighty, was Graciously pleased to Give and 
Grant unto me, my heirs & Assigns, forever, this Province 
of Pennsylvania, with Divers Great Powers and Jurisdic¬ 
tions for the Well Government thereof: and whereas the 
King’s Dearest Brother, James, Duke of York and Albany, 
&c., by his Deeds of feoffment under his hand & Seal, duly 
perfecting, bearing Date the Twenty-fourth Day of August, 
One thousand Six hundred Eighty & two, Did grant unto 
me, my heirs and Assigns, all that Tract of Land now Called 
the Territories of Pennsylvi’a, together with Powers and 
Jurisdictions for the good Government thereof; And Where¬ 
as, for the Encouragement of all the freemen and Planters 
that might be Concerned in ye said Province and Territories, 
and for the good Government thereof, I, the said Willm 
Penn, in the year One Thousand Six hundred Eighty & 
three, for me, my heirs and assigns, Did grant and Confirm 
unto all the freemen, Planters and adventurers therein, Di¬ 
vers Liberties, ^franchises & Propertys, as by the said Grant 

(12) 




3 


Entituled the Frame of ye Government of the Province of 
Pennsylvania & Territories thereunto belonging-, in Amer¬ 
ica, may appear; which Charter or Frame, being found in 
some parts of it not so suitable to ye Present Circumstances 
of the Inhabitants, was in the third month, in the year One 
thousand seven hundred, Delivered up to me by six parts of 
seven of freemen of this Province and Territories, in Gen¬ 
eral Assembly mett, provision being made in the said Char¬ 
ter for that end and Purpose; And Whereas, I was then 
pleased to promise that I would restore the said Charter to 
them again with necessary alterations, or in Liew thereof. 
Give them another better adapted to answer the Present 
Circumstances & condition of the said Inhabitants, which 
they have now, by their Representatives in General Assem¬ 
bly mett at Philadelphia, Requested me to grant; know ye 
therefore, that I, for the further well being and good Govrmt 
of the said Province and Territories, and in pursuance of the 
Rights and Powers before mentioned, I, the said William 
Penn, do Declare, grant and Confirm unto all the freemen, 
Planters and adventurers, and other inhabitants of this Prov¬ 
ince and Territories, these following Liberties, Franchises 
and Privileges, so far as in me lyeth, to be held, enjoyed and 
kept by the freemen, planters & adventurers, & other Inhab¬ 
itants of and in the said Province and Territories thereunto 
Annexed, forever; 

First: Because no people can be truly happy, though un¬ 
der the greatest Enjoyment of Civil Liberties, if abridg’d of 
the freedom of their Consciences as to their Religious pro¬ 
fession & Worship; and Almighty God being the only Lord 
of Conscience, Father of Lights & Spirits, and the author as 
well as object of all Divine Knowledge, Faith and Worship, 
who only doth Enlighten the Mind & perswade and Con¬ 
vince the Understandings of People, I do hereby Grant, and 
Declare that no person or persons, inhabiting in this Prov¬ 
ince or Territories, who shall Confess and acknowledge one 


Almighty God, the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the 
World, and Profess him or themselves obliged to Live Qui¬ 
etly under the Civil Government, shall be in any Case mo¬ 
lested or prejudiced in his or their person or Estate because 
of his or their Consciencious perswasion or Practice, nor be 
Compelled to frequent or maintain any Religious Worship, 
place or ministry contrary to his or their mind, or to do or 
suffer any other act or thing Contrary to their Religious per¬ 
swasion. And that all persons who also profess to believe 
in Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World, shall be Capable 
(notwithstanding their other perswasions and Practices in 
Point of Conscience and Religion) to serve this Government 
in any Capacity, both Legislatively and Executively, he or 
they Solemnly promising, when Lawfully required, alle¬ 
giance to the King as Sovereign, and fidelity to the Proprie¬ 
tor and Governour, and Taking ye attests as now Estab¬ 
lished, by the Law made at New Castle, in the Year One 
Thousand seven hundred, Intitled an act Directing the at¬ 
tests of several offices and ministers, as now amended and 
Confirmed by this present Assembly. 

Secondly: for the well governing of this Province and Ter¬ 
ritories, there shall be an Assembly Yearly Chosen by the 
freemen thereof, to Consist of four persons out of each 
County of most note for Virtue, Wisdom and Ability, (or of 
a greater number at any time as the Governour and Assem¬ 
bly shall agree,) upon the first day of October, forever; and 
shall sitt on the fourteenth day of the said month, at Phila¬ 
delphia, unless the Governour and Council for the time be¬ 
ing shall see Cause to appoint another place within the said 
Province or Territories, which assembly shall have power to 
Choose a Speaker and other of their officers, and shall be 
Judges of the Qualifications and Elections of their own 
members, sitt upon their own adjournments, appoint Com¬ 
mittees, prepare bills in or to pass into Laws, Impeach Crim¬ 
inals and Redress Grievances; and shall have all other pow- 


15 


ers and Privileges of an Assembly, according to the Rights 
of thee free born subjects of England, and as is usual in any 
of the King’s Plantacons in America. And if any County 
or Counties shall refuse or neglect to Choose their Respec- 
tive Representatives, as aforesaid, or if Chosen do not meet 
to serve in Assembly, those who are so Chosen & mett shall 
have the full power of an Assembly, in as Ample manner as 
if all the Representatives had been Chosen and mett; Pro¬ 
vided they are not less than two thirds of the whole number* 
that ought to mett; And that the Qualifications of Electors 
& Elected, and all other matters and things Relating to 
Elections of Representatives to serve in Assemblys, though 
not herein particularly Exprest, shall be and Remain as by 
a Law of this Governmt made at New Castle in the year One 
thousd seven hundred, Intitled an Act to ascertain the num¬ 
ber of members of Assembly, and to Regulate the Elections. 

Thirdly: that the freemen in each Respective County, at 
the time and place of meeting for Electing their Representa¬ 
tives to serve in Assembly, may, as often as there shall be 
occasion, Choose a Double number of persons to present 
to the Govr for Sherifs and Coroners, to serve three years, 
if they so long behave themselves well, out of which respec¬ 
tive Elections & Presentments The Gor shall nominate and 
Commissionate One for each of the said officers, The Third 
Day after such presentment, or else the first named in such 
presentment for Each office, as aforesaid, shall stand and 
serve in that office for the time before Respectively Limited; 
and in case of death or Default, such vacancies shall be sup¬ 
plied by ye Governour to serve to the End of the said Term: 
Provided always, that if the said freemen shall at any time 
neglect or Decline to Choose a person or persons for Either 
or both the aforesaid offices, then and in such Case the per¬ 
sons that are or shall be in the Respective offices of Sherif 
or Coroner at the time of Election, shall remain therein 
untill they shall be Removed by another Election, as afore- 


i6 


said. And that ye Justices of the Respective Counties shall 
or may nominate & present to the Govr, three persons to 
serve for Clerk of the Peace for the said County when there 
is a vacancy, One of which the Governour shall Commis- 
sionate within Ten Days after such presentment, or else the 
first nominated shall serve in the said office During good 
behaviour. 

Fourthly: that the laws of this Governmt shall be in this 
'stile, vizt: [By the Governour with the Consent and appro¬ 
bation of the freemen in General Assembly mett,] and shall 
be, after Confirmation by the Governour, forthwith Recorded 
in the Rolls office, and kept at Philadia, unless the Govr 
and Assembly shall agree to appoint another place. 

Fifthly; That all Criminals shall have the same Privileges 
of Witnesses and Council as their Prosecutors. 

Sixthly: That no person or persons shall or may, at any 
time hereafter, be obliged to answer any Complaint, matter 
or thing Whatsoever Relating to Property before the Gov- 
ernr and Council, or in any other place but in the ordinary 
Courts of Justice, unless appeals thereunto shall be hereafter 
by Law appointed. 

Seventhly: That no person within this Governmt shall be 
Licensed by the Governor to keep Ordinary, Tavern, or 
House of Publick Entertainment, but such who are first 
Recommended to him under the hand of the Justice of the 
Respective Counties, signed in open Court, wch Justices are 
and shall be hereby Impowered to suppress & forbid any 
person keeping such Publick House, as aforesaid, upon their 
misbehaviour, on such Penalties as the Law doth or shall 
direct, and to Recommend others from time to time as they 
shall see occasion. 

Eighthly: If any person, through Temptation or melan- 
cholly, shall Destroy himself, his Estate, Real & Personal, 
shall, notwithstanding, Descend to his wife and Children or 
Relations as if he had Died a natural Death; and if any per- 


i7 


son shall be Destroyed or kill’d by Casualty or accident, 
there shall be no forfeiture to the Governour by Reason 
thereof: And no act, Law or Ordinance,, whatsoever, shall 
at any Time hereafter be made or done to alter, Change or 
Diminish the form or effect of this Charter, or of any part 
or CauSe therein, Contrary to the true Intent and meaning 
thereof, without the Consent of the Govr for the time being, 
and Six parts of Seven of the Assembly mett. But because 
the happiness of mankind depends so much upon the En¬ 
joying of Liberty of their Consciences, as aforesaid, I do 
hereby Solemnly Declare, promise and Grant for me, my 
heirs and assigns, that the first article of this Charter, Relat¬ 
ing to Liberty of Conscience, and Every part and Clause 
therin, according to the true Intent and meaning thereof, 
shall be kept and remain without any alteration, Inviobly 
forever. 

And Lastly, I, the said William Penn, Proprietor & Govr 
of the Province of Pennsylvania and Territories thereunto 
belonging, for my self, my heirs and Assigns, have solemnly 
Declared, Granted and Confirmed, and do hereby Solemnly 
Declare, Grant and Confirm, that neither I, my heires or 
Assigns, shall procure or do any thing or things whereby 
the Liberties in this Charter Contained and Exprest, nor any 
part thereof, shall be infringed or Broken; and if any thing 
shall be procured or done by any person or persons, Con¬ 
trary to these presents, it shall be held of no force or effect. 

In Witness whereof, I, the said William Penn, att Phil- 
adia, in Pennsylvania, have unto this present Charter of 
Liberties sett my hand and Broad Seal, this Twenty Eight 
Day of October, in the Year of our Lord One thousand 
Seven hundred and one, being the thirteenth year of the 
Reign of King William the Third, over England, Scotland, 
ffrance and Ireland, &c., and in the Twenty first year of my 
Govrmt. And Notwithstanding in Closure and test of this 
present Charter, as aforesaid, I think fitt to add this follow- 


i8 


ing proviso therunto as part of the same, that is to say: 
that notwithstanding any Clause or Clauses in the above 
menconed Charter, obliged the Province and Territories 
to Join together in Legislation, I am Content and do hereby 
Declare that If the Representatives of the Province and Ter¬ 
ritories shall not hereafter agree to Joyn together in Legisla¬ 
tion, and if the same shall be signified to me or my Deputy, 
in open Assembly or otherwise, from under the hands and 
Seals of the Representatives (for the time being) of the prov¬ 
ince or Territories or the major part of Either of them, any 
time within three years from the date hereof: That in such 
Case the Inhabitants of Each of the three Counties of this 
Province shall not have Less that Eight persons to Repre¬ 
sent them in Assembly for the Province, and the Inhabitants 
of the Town of Philadia (when the said Town is incorpo¬ 
rated) Two persons to Represent them in Assembly; and the 
Inhabitants of Each County in the Territories shall have as 
many persons to Represent them in a District Assembly for 
ye Territories as shall be by them Requested, as aforesaid, 
Notwithstanding which seperation of the Province and Ter¬ 
ritories in Respect of Legislation, I Do hereby promise. 
Grant and Declare that the Inhabitants of both Province & 
Territories shall separately Enjoy all other Liberties, Privi¬ 
leges and benefitts Granted Jointly to them in this Charter; 
and Law usage or Custom of this Govrmt heretofore made 
& practised, or any Law made and passed by this General 
Assembly to the Contrary thereof, Notwithstanding. 

Copia Vera. WILLIAM PENN. 













































3 





































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